Ipswich Selections – Saturday 27 January 2024

Date: 26-Jan-2024

Seven races will be run and won at our Australia Day Recovery Race Day this Saturday.

While there will be plenty on course to entertain you, there is a more important reason to make sure you get yourself to Saturday’s meeting.

We will be hosting a big sausage sizzle to raise money for local jockey Emily Pomfrett who sustained head and leg injuries in a recent race day incident and faces a long road to recovery.

To help you buy an extra sausage, we’ve provided our best bets for each race below.

Race 1 - 1:39PM PHILLIP GROTH BENCHMARK 68 Handicap (800 METRES)

4 Hot Or Not

Hot Or Not is racing in a purple patch of form with wins in her past four starts. The Pat Webster-trained mare is a short course specialist and has won her past two starts over this course and distance. She’s been freshened since winning here six weeks ago where she made short work of the outside gate to lead all the way. Emily Lang has built a great relationship with the daughter of Furnaces and will give her the run of the race from the inside barrier.

Selections: 4-3-1-5

Race 2 - 2:14PM IEEC.COM.AU Class 2 Handicap (1200 METRES)

1 Kozani

Kozani impressed when running on strongly to win by a head at Warwick two starts back. Last start the Jack Bruce-trained Sepoy gelding worked home well to finish third by 1.3 lengths over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast. That was a Class 3, and he now drops back to a Class 2. He should be at peak fitness now and maps to get a great run for Corey Bayliss.

Selections: 1-6-9-2

Race 3 - 2:49PM TAB BENCHMARK 65 Handicap (2150 METRES)

1 Harold The Great

Harold The Great was brought north to Ipswich last start to break a run of outs and the move paid dividends. The Chris Waller-trained son of Savabeel had been plying his trade in Melbourne and Sydney but really responded to racing in the Sunshine State when running on powerfully from the tail to win by a nose over 2200m here. He again draws an outside gate but has the class to overcome it. He drops in class and will carry just 1.5kg more than last start thanks to Jai Williams claim.

Selections: 1-6-4-2

Race 4 - 3:29PM SEVEN NEWS BENCHMARK 60 Handicap (1100 METRES)

7 Salt Lake Betty

Just forget Salt Lake Betty’s last start in the King of the Mountain as she was completely outclassed. Prior to that the Desleigh Forster-trained filly had been racing in great form. Three starts back she bolted in by 3.3 lengths to win her maiden over 1110m at Doomben. She then beat home impressive Magic Millions Maiden winner Barassi when finishing second at Doomben. She has the early speed to cross and settle in a prominent position.

Selections: 7-6-1-10

Race 5 - 4:09PM GREAT NORTHERN Maiden Handicap (1200 METRES)

7 Miss Bacall

Many of these maiden entrants have been battling which is why I’m taking Miss Bacall despite her bad barrier. The Paul Jenkins-trained mare would start at short odds if she drew an inside gate. Two starts back she found the front at the Sunshine Coast but was run down late to finish a neck second. Last start she worked early to go forward from a wide gate and put up a good fight over 1200m at the Sunshine Coast to finish third. Sean Cormack should drive forward early to take up a prominent position.

Selections: 7-2-14-5

Race 6 - 4:50PM BARRIER REEF POOLS Fillies & Mares RATINGS BAND 0 - 58 Handicap (1350 METRES)

14 Alpha Jane

Alpha Jane was heavily backed last start at the Sunshine Coast, but the money remained in the bag when the Darryl Hansen-trained four-year-old mare was held up in the straight. To her credit she found the line strongly once clear to finish fourth by less than a length. She’ll strip fitter third-up and the rise in trip looks ideal. Jai Williams claim helps.

Selections: 14-3-4-5

Race 7 - 5:26PM IMPERIAL RACING Colts, Geldings & Entires RATINGS BAND 0 - 58 Handicap (1350 METRES)

3 Cold One

Cold One looks close to a win after finishing runner-up in both his past two starts. The Glenn Thornton-trained gelding looked the winner over 1410m at Ballina two starts back but was picked off in the shadows of the post. Last start he gave a good sight over 1420m at Lismore but was run down late to finish just under a length second. Paul Hammersley, who has come to Ipswich just for this ride, will look to go forward and give them something to catch.

Selections: 3-2-6-5

Best Bets

Race 1 – Hot Or Not (4)

Race 3 – Harold The Great (1)

Race 4 – Salt Lake Betty (7)

By Craig Sheppard

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